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The British Journal of Psychiatry (2002) 180: 434-440
© 2002 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Chronic, treatment-resistant depression and right fronto-striatal atrophy

P. J. SHAH, MRCPsych

Department of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, UK

M. F. GLABUS, PhD

Unit on Integrative Neuroimaging, Clinical Brain Disorders Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

G. M. GOODWIN, FRCPsych

University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford

K. P. EBMEIER, MD

Department of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, UK

Correspondence: Professor K. P. Ebmeier, Department of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Park, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, UK. Tel/Fax: 0131 5376505; e-mail: k.ebmeier{at}ed.ac.uk

Declaration of interest Support from the Royal College of Physicians (Edinburgh) and the Medical Research Council Brain Metabolism Unit.

Background Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is relatively common but its neurobiological basis is poorly understood. Fronto-striatal structural brain changes have been reported in patients with depression but their association with treatment resistance and chronicity has not been established.

Method Magnetic resonance images of 20 patients with TRD were compared with images of 20 recovered patients and 20 healthy controls. Images were compared using a voxel-based analysis (VBA) method; the results were validated by conventional volumetric analysis. The clinical associations of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes with illness duration and severity were examined by VBA.

Results Only the TRD group exhibited right fronto-striatal atrophy, and subtle MRI changes in the left hippocampus on VBA. Atrophy was confirmed on volumetric analysis, the degree correlating with the cumulative number of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatments received, suggesting an acquired deficit.

Conclusions This is the first study to demonstrate fronto-striatal atrophy in patients with depression with poor outcome; the atrophy is more marked in those with more severe illness.


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